Harare Sports Club

History

The earliest recorded first-class cricket match at Salisbury Sports Club was played in 1910. In the years between World War II and independence from the United Kingdom in 1980, the ground hosted several of Rhodesia's home matches in the Currie Cup, South Africa's main domestic first-class competition.

The first List A match at the ground was played in September 1980, shortly after independence. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the ground frequently hosted first-class and List A matches between the Zimbabwe national team and touring national 'A', 'B' and youth teams.

In July 1992, Zimbabwe became a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), thus obtaining Test status. Three months later, Harare Sports Club hosted the country's inaugural Test match, against India. Soon after, the ground played host to its first One Day International, also against India. In February 1995, HSC was the site of Zimbabwe's first-ever Test win, against Pakistan.

The venue

The ground is surrounded by Jacaranda trees and with a beautiful gabled pavilion, Harare Sports Club is in the heart of the city. It is bordered by the heavily guarded presidential palace on one side and the prestigious Royal Harare Golf Club on another.

The venue hosted Zimbabwe's first Test in October 1992 and has been the country's major Test and one-day venue since. Although the club itself does not possess any of the major stands associated with major sports grounds, the capacity of around 10,000 can be increased by the use of temporary stands, like when a record crowd of 26,000 saw Rhodesia play the MCC in 1956.

However, that capacity is rarely tested and in recent times only the 2014 Zimbabwe Tri-Series, involving Australia and South Africa, and the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier have drawn sizeable crowds. The main social centre is the historic pavilion with its popular bar, The Centurion. On the southern side of the ground is Castle Corner, the alternative and usually lively bar.

This ground is home to the domestic team Mashonaland Eagles. Harare Sports Club is also home to the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, the country's national cricket board.

Floodlight towers were installed at the ground in 2023 for the launch of the Zim Afro T10.

On 7 December 2023, the 1st T20I between Zimbabwe and Ireland was played under the floodlights, the first ever international match to be played under the lights at this venue.

References

References

1. "Harare Sports Club - Cricket Ground in Harare, Zimbabwe".
2. Menon, Mohandas. (15 June 2001). "Harare Sports Club ground at a glance". [[The Hindu]].
3. "First-Class Matches played on Harare Sports Club, Harare". CricketArchive.
4. "List A Matches played on Harare Sports Club, Harare". CricketArchive.
5. Heatley, pp. 191.
6. Chikamhi, Eddie. (19 July 2023). "Inaugural Zim Cyber City Zim Afro T10 gets underway". The Herald.
7. (7 December 2023). "ZIM vs IRE 1st T20I 2023 Becomes First International Match to Be Played Under Floodlights in Zimbabwe". LatestLY.